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Interior Decorating, Immigration Case Management among four new programs launched by Durham College

Four new programs are launching at Durham College (DC) in fall 2025 to meet industry and community needs and ensure graduates are career-ready and in-demand.

Applications are now open for the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician diploma program, Environmental Technician diploma program, Immigration Case Management graduate certificate and Interior Decorating diploma program.

“At Durham College, our role is to ensure that we are preparing students with the necessary skills and knowledge to fill evolving and in-demand careers,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students. “Consulting with industry professionals and leaders is an important part of our rigorous program development process so we’re confident these new programs align with the expertise employers are seeking.”

Demand in the immigration field, for example, has increased in recent years as Canada has welcomed millions of newcomers. DC is meeting the demand for legal support skills in the highly specialized area of immigration, refugee and citizenship law by launching the Immigration Case Management program – one of only two available at a public college in Canada.

“Law firms are craving legal assistance,” said Ana Bernal, program coordinator for Immigration Case Management. “Immigration law firms, community centre and centres for that help newcomers are looking for people with specialized knowledge because employers are finding it difficult to train new employees in this complex field.”

Explore all the new programs at DC:

Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) – This four-semester diploma program is one of only two in Ontario and meets the demand for technicians to service electric and hybrid vehicles. It’s focused on both traditional mechanical expertise and specialized EV knowledge with students training at DC’s state-of-the-art Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre.

Environmental Technician (EVTN) – Through this four-semester diploma program, students will train to play a key role in helping conserve Canada’s ecosystem and protecting the health of communities from environmental contaminants. They will learn to evaluate, monitor and control potential risks to the environment and public health and assist in environmental protection and sustainability efforts.

Immigration Case Management (IMCM) – This two-semester graduate certificate empowers students with specialized knowledge and skills required to support people engaged in the immigration, refugee and citizenship process. Students acquire specialized legal skills aimed at supporting law practitioners, government agencies and community centres with immigration-related case load.

Interior Decorating (INDR) – Students in this four-semester diploma program will explore the design process, space planning and decoration of both residential and commercial environments. They will learn to work with clients and tackle creative challenges to enhance quality of life through the curation of functional, accessible and beautiful environments.

Connect with our Start at DC team today to explore these new programs and all of DC’s 145+ career-ready programs.

“We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them”: How Durham College develops new programs to meet industry need

DC launches four new programs in fall 2024

This September, Durham College (DC) will welcome the first intakes of students in four new programs, designed to prepare them for today’s competitive job market with the skills and industry-specific knowledge they need to succeed.

The Law Clerk diploma, Professional Selling and Business Development graduate certificate , Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate, and the Public Relations graduate certificate programs are DC’s newest offerings – contributing to the college’s impressive repertoire of more than 145 programs, all developed to meet employer and industry needs.

“There is a heightened demand for professionals in these fields and we are proud to develop programming with a forward-focused perspective that prepares students to be career-ready in these industries,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students at DC. “We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them by following a rigorous program development process that includes labour market analysis and consultation with industry professionals and leaders.”

DC’s new Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate program is addressing the growing demand in the health sciences, particularly in emerging fields like genomics and proteomics. These fields, which have evolved from advancements in gene sequencing, enable scientists to use big data to identify and analyze diseases and disorders, leading to the development of targeted drug therapies and precision medicine.

“Research indicates a significant need for experts in clinical bioinformatics who can effectively utilize genomic and proteomic data to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes,” said Choi.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers in clinical data analysis, clinical research, or genetic counseling within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

“We also know that there are increasing employability rates in the public relations sector and legal fields, and in the sales industry the acceleration of digital trends has elevated the need for sales professionals to adopt new strategies to drive business success,” Choi added.

As industries rapidly evolve and employer needs continue to shift, DC remains committed to a proactive approach to program development. The college is preparing students who will fill labour shortage gaps and support growth across sectors, enabling graduates to take on rewarding careers in new and evolving fields.

Discover more than 145 in-demand programs by visiting DC online today.

Music Business grad nominated at 2024 Canadian Live Music Awards

This spring, Durham College (DC) alumnus Brendan Kennedy was nominated in the Road Warrior (Tour Manager) of the Year category at the 2024 Canadian Live Music Industry Awards (CLMIA), recognizing his more than 10 years on the road working with bands including The Glorious Sons, Valley and Billy Talent. The 8th annual CLMIAs took place on June 4 and celebrated Canada’s live music industry.

Kennedy grew up in Brockville, Ontario, playing in local bands as a drummer. In a small town with minimal resources, he also took on the role of promoter and sound technician – creating a clear vision for a career in the music industry.

Coming from a musical family, with both of his parents being teachers, he was encouraged to get a post-secondary education in an area he felt passionate about. He enrolled in the Music Business Administration program at DC and graduated in 2013.

“I went into the program with a pretty solid goal of what I wanted to accomplish, but the courses and faculty helped me understand how the whole music industry ecosystem works,” said Kennedy. “I took every available opportunity to gain experience doing sound. I did every open mic and took on a really big leadership role at The Reel Music Festival.”

The Reel Music Festival, now Oshawa Music Week, is an annual event organized by students in DC’s Music Business Administration/Music Business Management program and features live music showcases, entertainment for music lovers, and music-industry education for aspiring and established music-business practitioners.

After graduation, Kennedy moved to Toronto with his band, but quickly found his existing connections in the industry were opening opportunities for him to kick-start his career off stage. He began working in the studio with his friend, and future Juno Award-winning producer, Derek Hoffman. He then secured a position doing sound at two Toronto venues working DJ nights and shows. A bartender at one of the venues was Chris Cresswell from Canadian punk-rock band, The Flatliners. Cresswell heard Kennedy mixing a show and invited him on tour.

Since that first tour, Kennedy has been on the road with different bands consistently for 10 years touring Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and the United States.

He attributes his success not only to technical skills but to soft skills like organization, problem solving and an ability to connect with people. “You have to be good at your job, but being personable is also important,” he said. “I’ve been told I’m a very patient person, so that helps. I’ve always attributed that to my grandparents because they were so patient with my cousins and me as kids.”

A self-described open-book, Kennedy returns to campus when he can to offer guidance and inspiration to current students. His advice to those starting out in the music industry is to find an area you enjoy and stick with it.

“If you know you want to go into tour management for example, find people in that role to network with and just work really hard at that one thing. Putting yourself out there is the most important thing you can do in this business, and if you can stick close to your goals, it’ll pay off.”

* photo credit: Becca Hamel